The Book of Gold Leaves

by Mirza Waheed

BOOK

Genres: Fiction, India, Romance, Asia, Historical Fiction, Indian Literature, Literary Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2014

About the author

Mirza Waheed was born and brought up in Kashmir. His debut novel, The Collaborator, was an international bestseller, a finalist for the Guardian First Book Award and the Shakti Bhat Prize, and was longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize. In 2011, Waterstones selected it as part of its big literary debut promotion, ‘Waterstones 11’. It was also a book of the year for The Telegraph, New Statesman, Financial Times, Business Standard, and Telegraph India, among others. His second novel, The Book of Gold Leaves, was published in 2014 to critical acclaim.

The Book of Gold Leaves was shortlisted for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2016, longlisted for the Folio Prize, and was a finalist for the 2015 Tata Literature Live! Book of the Year (Fiction).

Mirza has written for the BBC, the Guardian, Granta, Guernica, Scroll India, Caravan Magazine, Wriers Mosaic, Al Jazeera English, and The New York Times.

Waheed’s latest novel Tell Her Everything was nominated for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2019 and Tata Literature Live Book of the Year. It won the Hindu Prize for Fiction 2019.

Tell Her Everything was published by Melville House in the US and the UK in February 2023.

Waheed’s new novel Maryam & Son will be published in 2025.

Reviews

[Aditi · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We accept the love we think we deserve.”

----Stephen Chbosky


Mirza Waheed, an India author, has penned an enthralling tale of forbidden love in a state which is disrupted by war, blood and politics in his book, The Book of Gold Leaves where the author weaves a painful yet enlightening love story where two young souls meet and fall for the very first time in a war-torn Kashmir. But the politics and the blood-thirsty agenda of then Kashmir threatens to strip away the happiness of these two souls found in each other.


Synopsis:

Two lovers are destined to meet in the city of Srinagar. Roohi is a beautiful, spirited girl who is haunted by dreams of a mysterious man she believes is her true love. Faiz is a young papier-mâché artist on the cusp of painting his masterpiece, the Falaknuma. When fate conspires to bring them together one windswept evening, both fall irrevocably in love.
But it is the 1990s. Kashmir is simmering with political strife and rebellion, and it is only a matter of time before Srinagar is engulfed in the gathering storm. Before they know it, the city they call home is besieged and erupts in violence, threatening everything the two lovers hold dear.


Faiz, the young Shia papier-mâché artist meets the beautiful and educated Sunni young girl, Roohi, one evening in the courtyards of their local shrine in the heart of Srinagar. They immediately fall for one another as Roohi was wishing for a love story to the Lord Almighty for a very long time. But the time is ripe with bloodshed curfew, murder and abductions, hence in an Indian army ruled state, Kashmir, Faiz and Roohi's love story begins but soon Faiz too crosses the boundary of LoC to be trained as a militant just like every other common Kashmiri man and thus begins Roohi's long wait for her love to come back to her. But will Faiz come back to her and give an happy ending to his love story with Roohi?

After reading the synopsis, I was very much compelled to purchase this book before my trip to Kashmir, and what can I tell you about it, the book simply made me accustomed with Kashmir's sorrowful history. The book was so absorbing from the very first page itself, that I had no idea when I lost myself into the story of Faiz and Roohi completely. The book's cover image is, no doubt, very much attractive and the art too made me purchase a lot of papier-mâché products like pen stand, shikara (traditional Kashmiri house boats), eggs, bowl and many such little things from Kashmiri handicrafts shops. The author has strikingly captured the art and the intricate detailings contained in a papier-mâché product through the book's cover image.

The author's writing style is incredibly lyrical and exquisite just like any delicate and intricate papier-mâché artist's handi work. The writing is also laced with some emotions that are sometimes quite vulnerable and sometimes extremely heart-felt and at times a bit overwhelming. The narrative is not only inspired by the local Kashmiri dialect but is also real, engaging and evocative that will only make the readers turn the pages of this book frantically. The pacing is swift as there are so much vivid details and descriptions about the history, the back stories, the landscape and everything that only adds a Kashmiri flair into the story line.

The backdrop that the author arrested into the pages of this book is not only striking but also extremely lively which will only act as a time machine for the readers that will transport them not only back in a forgotten and deadly era in Kashmir's history but also to this very paradise, where Persian poet Amir-e-Khusru Dehluvi once quoted,

Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast,
Hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast.

Meaning, If there is paradise on earth, It is here, it is here, it is here.

And the author have managed to captured the words of this famous poet while painting the picturesque backdrop of Kashmir with its green valleys and meadows and clear blue stream flowing amidst the snow-white-capped mountains into the heart of the city, Srinagar. The timeline aptly syncs with the projection of the then Kashmir when the war not only changed the lives of the common and innocent Kashmiri folks but also changed the whole ecology of this paradise.

The characters, may not be the strongest aspect of this book, but the author has developed them strongly and strikingly by bringing out their Kashmiri charm and their patriotism while penning this story. Faiz is an intense and hard-working man who provides for his very large family although at his free time, he loses himself secretly into the canvas and colors of his own creation of a painting. Faiz is a common man and unrest and injustice done upon his family easily wakes up the sleeping patriotism within him, when he joins the Pakistan-trained militant group across the borders of Kashmir. Faiz's story captures the everyday struggle of a common and innocent Kashmiri man during the 90s, when abduction of local youth by the militants haunted each and everyone, and not to mention the fear of finding out the news of the death of a family member who have been abducted. Roohi, on the other hand, is a cliched character, who is extremely beautiful, educated, loyal and obedient, someone almost with no flaws, hence I found myself hard to connect with Roohi's feelings. The rest of the supporting cast of distinct and interesting characters will easily keep the readers hooked into the story.

The romance is painted with innocence, passion and so much charm that it will easily melt the readers' hearts for these two love birds. The romance developed gradually with the correct feelings that will not only move the readers but will also fill the readers hearts with a sense of longing and nostalgia. Although the romance between them evolves from something compassionate to something as painful as separation awaits them midway into the story.

Overall, this love story so well sways in the backdrop of brutal Kashmiri violence during the 90s, when the local Kashmiri youth joined hands with the militants to fight with the Indian Army. From the historical point of view, the story is realistic and really intriguing, but from the love affair's point of view, the story could have been much more enchanting and little less predictable.

Verdict: If you want to read about the long forgotten history of Kashmir and if you want to experience the author's poetic prose, then do read this book.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should have enjoyed this far more than I did. As the author gave very little away about the history of Kashmir, I recommend that anyone thinking about reading this book arms themselves with information to pad out the missing - yet vital - details.

Despite the lack of this background knowledge, the author describes in great detail things like flowers, paints and cigarettes.

The other negative that members of my book group brought up was the number of characters and the similarity of their names. We all agreed that a list at the beginning of the book would have helped enormously, especially as many of the characters only had a couple of mentions during the course of the book.

Apart from the above, this was undoubtedly a beautifully written and moving account of this war torn region.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When you come back to me, I will tell you everything.......

tyranny and cruelty are their own downfall. Remember that!"

[Santanu Bhattacharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been to Kashmir, stayed there for a while, interacted with many people, and listened to hundreds of stories of the conflict, this book brought back many memories of faces, houses, alleys, families. In a very subtle way, this book manages to take us through the days of conflict and give us different perspectives. It is rare for fiction from Kashmir to give us a peek into the minds of an army commander (who is the oppressor), or talk about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits (though I found it a bit muted in the book, given how violently they were attacked).

But at the core of this book is a love story - a story of innocent young souls who are bound together for life by the thread of love. I realized that I was reading a love story after a long time, and it filled my heart with warmth. Set in the beautiful Kashmir valley, the story becomes even more vibrant and vivid.

It's an easy read, could have been shorter, and makes you travel into a world you've never seen but can feel it throbbing inside you.

[Faisal Buzdar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel about Kashmir, set in Kashmir, and dyed in Kashmir, chronicling the love affair between Faiz, a talented papier-mache artist, and Roohi, a courageous and intelligent girl with a passion for poetry. This is a slow burn and delights the reader with a lyrical prose and an awe-inducing description of painted flowers, birds and landscape. The relationship of the two central characters is forged in the crucible of conflict and grows intense as the valley of Kashmir is gripped by violence and turmoil. It's not a run-of-the-mill love story mainly interested in drama and tension surrounding the main characters, rather it goes beyond that and seamlessly weaves a portrait of local culture and life in Kashmir. References to forms like music, food and dress are aplenty and one cannot keep from imagining sipping salt tea in a cozy room or walking along the streets of old Srinagar town. Though while reading the book sometimes one does feel that some of the characters are too secondary to the plot and don't fit in and therefore could have been done away with, the author here seems to demonstrate that they are instrumental in understanding the big picture in the context of conflict in Kashmir and how it has torn apart ordinary lives. With a blend of poetic prose, strong characters and absorbing social and political commentary, The Book of Gold Leaves is a rewarding read for anyone interested in Kashmir and Kashmiris.

[Mohsina Asif · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The shadows shift, shake for a moment, but do not separate.”

“Faiza, don’t you know? It’s not the same. On some days, I can smell fresh blood in the air, sometimes even in my food, especially at sunset. The shy across the river turns scarlet and I can smell it, trust me, and then I feel terrified and think of you and everyone else, my father and brother and mrypoor sad mother, and Farhat-“

The book owes it low rating to foreign readers who find it hard to relate to a deeply cultural story and setting with local names, the very things which pull the Pakistanis, Indians and Kashmiris to it.

[Mehvish · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's nothing that I didn't love about this book - from it's gorgeous cover to its gorgeous characters and the beautifully narrated strong and poignant story line. Mirza Waheed has crafted a beautiful story of people whose lives were inexplicably torn apart with generations of violence. Highly recommended!

[Ali]

I'm not one for literary fiction, which this book falls under. But the premises of this one were so interesting (an inter-sect love story, a story about war, and a story about Kashmir) that I had to give it a chance. I didn't necessarily enjoy reading this book -- but I'm very glad to have read it.

As I mentioned, I don't really enjoy literary fiction, and I can't say I've read too many romances. I won't let that judge my review of the book as that wouldn't make any sense. However, even ignoring my personal tastes, I felt the book was still too indulgent, the pace too slow, and the writing too meandering. The narrative arc ultimately had little in the way of conflict, or much anything really. At times, things that I was interested to see happening happened off-page, or with little depth (Spoiler: for example, Faiz's mention of Roohi to his older brother, and their eventual marriage). At other times, the writing digressed so much it sucked the action out of intense moments, and made them difficult to clearly understand. The book is full of quirky characters, but sometimes it felt forced, wherein characters made decisions that seemed contrary to their characters (Spoiler: for example Faiz essentially stealing money from mosque donations to go to the cinema as a youth) to fulfill some sort of literary-fiction-quirky-quota. Sometimes, though seldom, it also seemed the author was simply using character monologues to convey his own ideas. But as I neared the end of this book and finished it, I realized why I had pushed myself to make it all the way through.

This book is actually a solid story about Kashmir. It powerfully captures what life is like, the sadness of the conflict, and the impossibility of the situation its people are forced to deal with (all of the people, including the Pandits). Everything else, including even the central narrative I feel, are secondary to that goal. By the end, the author certainly does manage to communicate that story.

Summary:

Faiz is a Shia artist by trade (papier-maché), and by nature. He left school early to become a full time painter, where his talents are put to use to produce items in bulk. Roohi is a Sunn,i university-educated girl, who struggles to resist marriage offers in the hopes of a true love story.

Faiz has a painting of the Persian poet Omar Khayyam being poured wine by a woman with beautiful long hair. He often draws inspiration from this image. As he goes to the mosque near the evening prayer, Roohi has just completed her own prayer, for aforementioned love story. From her balcony she sees him, and he sees her. They eventually get in contact and fall for each other, meeting in the basement of the shrine nearby to talk. Their romance is complicated by their distinct backgrounds.

Eventually the situation in Kashmir changes for the worse. Soldiers arrive and begin occupying schools and setting up bunkers. A rebel-attempt to attack a bunker fails, and results in the bunker's soldiers unloading a machine gun on everyone in the vicinity, not stopping until the bullets run out. The soldiers hit a school bus full of children and their elderly female caretaker. That caretaker is Faiz's Godmother and nurse, a woman without relatives. Faiz is nearby during this event, and enters the bus to see the dead children and his dying Godmother. He carries her outside as she dies in his arms.

The situation in Kashmir continues to escalate. A vehicle captures boys in the street; Faiz's elder brother, who is the house's patriarch after Faiz's father passed away (and is much older than him) is caught and dragged. He becomes seriously injured, and loses function in his right hand, with which he drew calligraphy. Faiz becomes more and more despondent. He cannot get the image of his Godmother and the schoolchildren out of his head. He is frustrated by the idea that everyone will forget her as she had no one, and is unable to fall asleep for days at a time. He resorts to consuming entire bottles of cough syrup.

Faiz decides to leave to travel to Pakistan, as is common for many Kashmiri young boys, to become trained as a militant. Roohi worries for him, and the situation worsens in Kashmir still. Around the time Faiz leaves, nighttime raids are conducted and many young men are taken away. People disappear and never returned, and bodies start ending up in the street. Roohi's father, a government census worker, is concerned his work was used towards the raids, and becomes paranoid. Rumi, Roohi's younger brother who joins a local 'rebel' group that is really a bunch of fake braggadocios do-nothings without training begin confronting him about his father. Roohi quickly puts them in their place. As tensions increase, Kashmiri pandits are killed as well. They gradually leave Kashmir as conditions worsen.

Faiz trains in Pakistan, developing bombs as he once developed papier-mâché art pieces. He makes friends with a well-connected fellow camp dweller nicknamed Engineer, who helps him write letters to Roohi (whose permission he did not ask before leaving, nor did he make her aware, though in his defense he was addicted and needed to make a choice fast). They communicate some, and this is where the book title quote comes from "What I miss the most, is the waiting", Roohi's waiting for the day they could meet in the shrine. Eventually, Faiz feels he must return, and Engineer manages to make it so that he is able to.

He returns a new man, the Artist-cum-Warrior, and a 'mujahid'. He carries a gun on him at all times, is unable to stay in one place for a night, and must move frequently. He decides he must marry Roohi now, and goes to her home to ask her hand. The state of Kashmir has degraded severely, what with the frequent protests and killing of Kashmiris. The issue of sectarian difference fades into the background, and what with him being a 'mujahid' and all, which commands a certain respect and religious prominence. They get married simply, and unbeknownst to them become something of a local myth -- two lovers, the Shia Artist-turned-Warrior, and the Sunni Poet Girl (as Roohi reads a lot of poetry) managing to overcome differences and get married. They go on a short honey moon; this is an example of how the author allows the reader to explore the different parts of Kashmir, and learn more about its culture and history.

Agar Firdaus Bar-Roo Zameen-Ast,
Hameen-ast, o'hameen-ast, o'hameen-ast.

Rumi is again confronted by his group of local thugs (Faiz, the real deal, never has a chance to intervene) who compel him to invite his Dad to a talk after prayers behind the mosque (where much of the novel's event take place).

Aside: Roohi is read about as equally as Faiz in this book, but her sections are more monologues than plot progressions, so less mentioned here.

Rumi tells his Dad the government's district census director is there to see him (what his gang told him to say), and his father innocently goes. He gets to the back of the mosque, and is surprised to find the actual census director there. Roohi and Rumi's dad sits next to the census director, smoking in identical old Kashmiri style (held between ring and little finger, cupping the smoke in a fist). The director pulls out a silenced gun and shoots him in the chest three times.

Sometime later, the Dad is found. Faiz finds him first. Instantly the government is suspected (which is correct, but I can't remember how the novel clearly establishes this to the people). The people assemble around the mosque to bury him, and protest his murder. Here the author is able to show the Kashmiri people's solidarity, recognition of martyrdom, and unified protest as they scream "Who's blood is this?" to the collective response "Mine!".

The army shows up at the mosque as night approaches -- a curfew has been in place for two or so years now. The army major is known to the reader, having narrated some chapters, and sets up the machine gun atop the tank to discourage them from assembling further. They are breaking curfew and must return home. It is also the first of Muharram, and Faiz's older brother shows up with the Alam, or Shia standard, representing the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (as). The protests begin to magnify and tension increases as Faiz's brother walks closer and closer to the Major with his alam held high.

When the army arrived, Faiz, as a militant, is urged to leave, and so runs with Roohi to her house which is next door. They comfort Rumi assuring him it is not his fault, and then climb to the balcony to watch the events unfold, the same balcony Roohi had first seen Faiz from. We learn from the Major that the government had indeed killed Rumi's father. The local fake rebel who had bullied Rumi had in fact turned turncoat. The government had used Roohi's fathers censuses to conduct their raids and did not want others to know. They decided to simply kill him, to tie up loose ends.

The protest grows still stronger, as Faiz and Roohi watch from the balcony. Faiz's mother sees him from the balcony and looks away, sure he is safe, but not wanting to give them away. Faiz's brother walks still closer to the Major with his Alam. The Major, not exactly an evil man as we have learned (though he has certainly supported some questionable acts, to say the least) takes off his safety. He decides to send a warning shot to disperse the crowd. He turns his gun away towards the roofs of the local houses and shoots, only to see too late two shadows holding each other tightly on the balcony of the house he turned towards. The shadows hold each other, shake, and then are still...still holding on to one another.

[Amina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never judge a book by its cover... Beautiful cover rubbish book.

[Shveta Bansal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a beautiful innocent love story in the backdrop of brutality in the sorrowful Kashmir in the 1990’s when its fragile novice youth were easily falsified to militancy and anti national feelings of grudge and vengeance toward the Indian army and soldiers was peaking to a new high.
The actual situation there at that time and it’s reflection is always a matter of debate... so without further going into it, let me review the book from my point of view.
War is never healthy . It destroys everyone and everything around it... whether it’s two lovers from different religious sects coming together or their near and dear ones. The bullet knows no religion, no caste .. it only comes out to hit a target ... be it a commoner , a soldier or militia. This unrest in the valley ‘’paradise on Earth’’ , turned everyday of their life into a struggle for survival. The newly blossoming love of Faiz and Roohi is thralled in what’s right and what’s not..... they meet to separate and bear the pain of love in the valley ... What all changes in Faiz’s life after returning from across the LoC after militia training ? What’s his future and what about his ‘’love of my life’’ ?
It’s a poignant read and I loved delving a bit more into the Indian affairs of the past .

[Paula Sealey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The heart of this story centres on Faiz and Roohi, two young people who meet and fall in love, but are then kept apart when troops invade their Kashmiri town.

I really enjoyed the main characters and the description of their life and feelings for each other, but there were a lot of sub-characters and it was hard to remember who they were at times and keep up with their roles in the story. The images of war were well written, but no information as to why the conflict began was offered, so this part of the story felt a bit disjointed as the soldiers just appeared one day, and well, that was that! I had no idea why they were there, and therefore lost a connection with the story.

Overall, this was a good read with lots of nice descriptive prose, but let down by missing facts which I'm sure would have raised this rating up another star.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romanzo interessante e intenso. Storia d'amore proibita in una zona conflittuale

[Arun · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1982 I traveled to Kashmir with my parents. I still recall vividly the intense beauty of the place - the stately Imperial gardens, Shalimar, Nishat, and Chashma Shahi along the waters of Dal Lake; the intricately carved houseboats; the ancient Shankaracharya Temple and Shah-e-Hamdan shrine in the Khanqah area of Srinagar; Pahalgam and Gulmarg. I recall the chill of the mornings even in August, when I snuggled into the quilts and the smokiness of the dhal and curries cooked over charcoal. It was truly a vision of Paradise.

It remains a great tragedy of Indian history that the brutal occupation and violence against the Kashmiri people - enacted by Indian troops and amplified in the last year of Union rule by the Hindutva government of Narendra Modi which has enforced an internet blackout - has undermined India’s claims to a secular pleuralistic democracy.

Mirza Waheed’s luminous novel, The Book of Gold Leaves, set in contemporary Srinagar ( but before the latest Indian atrocity), is a potent indictment of the tragedy of Kashmir. In calm restrained elegiac prose he narrates the love story of an artist. Faiz is a painter of papier mache boxes , a Shia, who is working on a masterpiece - his Falluqnamah- which reflects the beauty of his land. Roohi, patrician with the soul of a poet, a Sunni, finds in Faiz her soulmate. Infused with lyricism yet unflinchingly Waheed condemns each of the predators who act to destroy the beauty of the Kashmiri culture. He condemns most of all the Indian government forces, embodied by the corrupt Sumit Kumar but also the militants and their Pakistani handlers who together tear the delicate but tolerant fabric of Kashmiri society. Kashmir was a place where Hindu Brahmins and their Muslim neighbors lived together and respected each other’s faiths and traditions. Indeed the Shah-e-Hamadan shrine which was built on the site of a Hindu temple to Kali and where all communities worship embodied that tolerance. And it is this shrine which serves as the lovers secret hideaway and the scene of the novels denouement.
In the end , Waheed suggests that art, poetry, culture, and most importantly our shared humanity which they reflect, are the characteristics which endure and create resilience. As we reflect upon the humanitarian crises in our world - Kashmir yes, but also Tibet, Occupied Turkmenistan, Balochistan, Palestine, and our own American institutional racism - Waheed reminds us of the importance of art and literature in bearing witness to injustice and creating havens where we may organize resistance and cultivate resilience.

[Faraaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Images, headlines, news articles on conflict ridden regions under brutal occupation can often be reductive ‘ Kashmiris, separatists, Islamists, terrorists,’ are blanket terms thrown around that reduce individual lives and stories into one large easily dehumanized entity.

Literature remains the last stand against that. In Mirza Waheed’s novels, those reductive umbrellas are stripped away to present the human stories, flawed, complex, tragic and beautiful all at the same time.

In Kashmiri stories, in every young Kashmiri life and the trajectory it takes, there’s a trail of broken dreams, unfulfilled aspirations left behind. “There are a thousand quiet heartbreaks amid the loud ones that we hear about, she sometimes thinks. Some carry on, quietly, over a lifetime.

What is it really like to live under a brutal military occupation all your life? What is it like to grow up in a world where military barracks, check posts, torture, missing persons, mass killings are normal, every day occurrences? It leaves deep scars on you and not just from being directly effected by it. If you haven't been personally lost someone to the Occupation, that can leave a different kind of scar - the scar of guilt. The guilt of not sharing the entire weight of oppression with your peers, for having a moment of respite, a moment of happiness, a moment of allowing yourself to dream, to love, to desire a life with your lover in a quiet little hut. How dare you desire all that? the heart says in an instant. How can you allow yourself the audacity to dream? How selfish are you?

These are the internal struggles and battles that Mirza Waheed's two lovers in "The Book of Gold Leaves" grapple with. Without Literature, there would be no way for us to get a feel of this aspect of the human condition.

[Nurhanisah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me almost 2 months to finish this book as I was extremely busy with dissertation and joining in activities in University. What I did was I tried to squeeze in my readings in any available time I had, minus the sleepless nights and classes. Hence, all those times waiting for the bus and train were occupied with me and this particular book.

Basically, it is a moving story on love, sacrifice and violence revolving around a Shia papier-mache artist boy and an educated Sunni girl in an army-occupied Srinagar, Kashmir. Centering on the workings of relationship between Faiz and Roohi, despite the separation and issues of religion, the love that endlessly bloomed between them was spectacular and beautiful. I like how descriptively detailed the author has written each chapters, to help readers visualize the scenarios as well as the venues where everything happens in the book. I also especially love the cover of the book.

It's an amazing read altogether. And I could not help but relate the story to this particular song, Tum Hi Ho by Arijit Singh, which consists of such simple but meaningful lyrics.

p/s: Submitted my final draft for dissertation. Hopefully, everything goes well.

[Sayantani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book is like someone is describing it by painting; a beautiful choreography of words, a watercolor painting of the story.
The plot revolves around two lovers in KASHMIR, their paths connected and torn between political tension and disturbance of the city. But they are not the only characters. The foremost character of this book is the city itself.
Kashmir, the magnificent Kashmir!! Mirza Waheed has done a fantastic job by making a picturesque description of this age old beauty. The Jheelum river, the Mughal gardens, the Chinar tree, the Shikara, the old town of its shrine, mosque, all the narrow lanes with smell of spices; every thing become so vivid, so natural that the user will be enthralled by it. First time I fell in love with Kashmir when I visited it; second time Mirza Waheed make me again to lose my heart for this heaven of earth.

[Dzura · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Happens when you don't have any family, no one cares apart from a few prayers in the Mosque"

I actually rather difficult to understand this story apart from the love story from a Sunni girl with a Shia boy. Too many supporting characters are enough to make me dizzy to read this novel, as the name used sometimes makes me confused as the main male character name Faiza was like a girl's name in Indonesia vice versa with Roohi the main female character.

But the novel is very good at making the message of Sunni and Shia were always at odds, in this novel the author seemed to give the message that there is nothing wrong with the relationship between the two main characters. War is also the worst thing that will only made the victims on civilians.

[Umar Tosheeb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have ever read written by an author from Indian Kashmir. Those having this view that revolt against Indian rule means that Kashmiris want to join Pakistan are wrong. The author gives the impression that there's a strong Kashmiri identity separate from India and Paksistan.
This book doesn't explain the origins of revolt or violence in Kashmir, however, it does a very good job of showing what was happening in 80s in Kashmir. The interesting thing in this novel is the relationship between Hindus and Muslims during this time of trouble. Although most Hindus had to leave Kashmir valley but the assumption that most Mualims turned against them after the violence started is wrong.
It's a good read for anyone interested in the human cost of violence in Kashmir.

[Tinne · Rating 2 out of 5]

ik hield niet van het (wisselende) vertelperspectief, en dan vooral niet van het "we"-perspectief (de auteur die commentaar geeft)

[Naman Chaudhary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully narrated with strong and poignant story line. The characters leave an everlasting impression on you as you turn the last page and mourn its completion.

[Neelam · Rating 3 out of 5]

the innocence and the trauma🥺💔

[Mousumi Rao · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amir Khusrau quoted:

Agar firdaus bar roo-e zameen ast,
Hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast.

If there is paradise on earth,
It is here, it is here, it is here.

When this book suggestion came up on my general search... I added it to my immediate reading list. And who would not love reading about Kashmir?!
The Book of Gold Leaves by Mirza Waheed was a little too much of a documentary than really a fact-fiction book. That is what probably put me off somewhere in between and I skipped many paragraphs to finish it this evening.
I have to confess that I had to look through couple of GR reviews to console and justify what I felt about the book. This book was heart breaking in many ways. I would have loved to have read more about the love story of Faiz and Roohi in their home town of Kashmir. But, the horrible happenings of military and jihadi interference took over everyone's lives and stories.
I would have also liked to know more about Kashmiri handiwork - of papier mache art - that Faiz indulged in. The story line only spoke of how this boy was a genius in his art and had hands that could only produce sheer beauty but was forced to hold guns. A murder of innocence so to speak.
Reviewers were of the opinion that there could have been a page to mention names of characters...because there are just too many things happening that you have to sort of stop in your tracks to remember who the person was, who was being discussed. This book could have done away with half the number of pages or probably worked on the story line a little more deeply. I must agree to the reviewers that you would need some bit of knowledge of how Kashmir was and how it ravaged.
What mostly caught my eye were these lines that Faiz quotes to Roohi:
Hame chahiye thha milna
Kissi ahd-e-mehrbaan mein
Kissi khwaab ke yaqeen mein
Kissi aur aasman par
Kissi aur sarzameen mein
Hame chahiye thha milna

We ought to have met
In another, kinder time
In pursuit of attainable dreams
Below a different sky
Upon a different earth
We ought to have met there

Some more of Khusrau's couplets that touch your heart:

1. “Khusrau darya prem ka, ulti wa ki dhaar,
Jo utra so doob gaya, jo dooba so paar.

Oh Khusrau, the river of love
Runs in strange directions.
One who jumps into it drowns,
And one who drowns, gets across.”

2. Farsi couplet:
Mun tu shudam tu mun shudi,mun tun shudam tu jaan shudi
Taakas na guyad baad azeen, mun deegaram tu deegari

I have become you, and you me,
I am the body, you soul;
So that no one can say hereafter,
That you are someone, and me someone else.”

3. Preet kare so aisi kare ja se man patoyaye
Jane jane ki preet se, toh janam akarat jaaye.

If you want to love someone, love them with all your heart, loving like everyone else will leave you without love.

[Arunaa (IG: rebelbooksta) · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Book of Gold Leaves' by Mirza Waheed
آزادی
Ruminating in silence upon finishing this book. One of the finest literary masterpieces I have had the privilege to read. Beautiful prose, atmospheric premises. I was mind-blown by the artistic naqashi compositions with Papier-mâché. Mirza Waheed gave life to the naqashi in writing.
آزادی
It is a heart-wrenching story with a touching romance premise set in the heart of Kashmir Valley. Unspeakable tyranny took form in a monstrous vehicle, manned by monsters which swallowed both the young and old off the streets. The agony Kashmiris suffer from is unspeakable; beyond words can fathom.
آزادی
I found myself in Roohi through many of her convictions. A fierce and devoted lover she is, never giving up on the man she desired. The unfolding of events got my heart-pounding. Of course, I never expected this ending. So I have to say, this one is gripping in that sense.
آزادی
There was a decent addressal of the deep-seated and sensitive rancour between the Sunni and Shia Muslims. Waheed wrote in a naturally inclusive way without differentiation. He brought to the front the dangers of millitancy when freedom-fighters are led by scheming commanders who have a different agenda. They cunningly use the hapless local youths to turn against their own people. An absolute havoc from all directions, especially being caught in between 2 countries. I have nothing to comment on politics anymore. It makes me sick. However, I do care for these people displaced from their own land. Completely besieged.
آزادی
There's a beautiful romance blossoming in the story, an atmospheric setting of the valley, lakes and mountains, with the yearning to see Faiz's Papier-mâché naqashi masterpiece in which he kept his heart and soul.
آزادی
This book deserves 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and more. My first of Waheed's books and he has a fan in me. Planning on reading his other 2 works.
آزادی
I needed to capture this kindle version book cover against a subtle but pure gold shimmer background. Found the perfect saree for it. In a beautiful teal shade Vaira Oosi (diamond-needle) saree woven with pure gold zari on the body. I have to get the paperback copy. That's how beautiful the book cover and the description of the naqashi is. (Waheed shares the story of his book cover).
آزادی
Thank you, Waheed. We'll live to see the day Kashmir is free. Azadi Kashmir
آزادی
#thebookofgoldleaves #mirzawaheed #kashmir #azadkashmir #papiermâché #naqashi #kindlereads #igreads #bookstagram #nlbsg #readingnationsg #nationallibrarysg #azadi #azadikashmir #standwithkashmir

[Noorie Hassan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is so rich and full of culture and history. It tells the story of two innocent lovers of Kashmir - Faiz and Roohi, who struggle to get together amid the brutal attacks and violence by the Indian militants. The author shows the relationship between the Muslims and Hindus who live together in Kashmir; how harmoniously they coexist and go about their lives. But most of the Hindus fled the valley of Kashmir after the military invaded and occupied the area. The background for the invasion and violence isn’t clearly explained or talked about in this book, but the present situation causing riots and disturbances is very well explained. The characters of Faiz and Roohi are beautifully curated and they have a lasting effect on the reader. Roohi is a brave woman who never gives up on the man she dearly loves and desires. Their love story is delightful yet heartbreaking. The ending is so unexpected and sudden that it left me heartbroken and in shock. Mirza Waheed has done an excellent job at writing such picturesque descriptions of Kashmir. I’ve visited Kashmir once and after reading the charming descriptions, I’d love to go there again. I hope to see Kashmir free one day! The writing style is a bit tedious and there are unnecessary extensive details, but overall it’s a masterpiece so carefully and gracefully inscribed.

[Fatima Fakhir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note:
The next time you witness two of your college seniors reading excerpts from a book and decide to read the book- consider that it’s probs not the writing but the charismatic voices of the two people that enchanted you.
I picked it up because I thought Roohi and Faiz’s letters were so beautiful. I wanted to read about a love story that was pure and real. So often people believe love doesn’t exist. It does we just aren’t lucky enough to have it. These two people born in the unluckiest of circumstances were very lucky many of us may feel. They found love. In a torn messed up place but they found it.
The only part I liked was the romance however it was very short. This book was more on educating the world about Kashmir and what life is like in it. The points of view were pretty scattered and I get why- the purpose of the book was to explain Kashmir not Roo’aiz (ship name yes). So I guess I got disappointed because of the unsolicited Kashmir lecture I got from this book. If I hadn’t known a lot about Kashmir already i would’ve enjoyed the book more I suppose.
Would recommend to anyone confused about the region and what’s happening in it. What has been happening for years now.

[Aiman Khan. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those beautiful books that make you feel the ache of loss & separation, & yet you feel home, because that's a part of your reality too. It does justice to different sides of being who you are & who you choose to be amidst the chaos around you. It has a life of its own throbbing with pain, hope, affection - all held together by firm threads of belief. The detailing done throughout makes you feel more home even when you're home. An honest read, only if you have the heart to feel the pain of others. .

This particularly touched me :
"The murder & decay of this once magnificent city, & most of all, the frightened withdrawal of many from their own lives & the stunned faces of grief-stricken people."

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fictional book can be hard to read at times, either because of its style or because of its subject matter. Many aspects of the relationship between the two main characters don’t seem like they could actually happen in a place as conservative as Kashmir, but perhaps I’m wrong. Despite some misgivings, I’ve rated this book highly because it provides a glimpse into the hearts of the Kashmiri people and what they’ve suffered and because of the way the author’s love for Srinagar, for Kashmir, and for the people who live there shines in his writing.

[Emma Wiles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book, just so freaking depressing. Interesting story of Kashmir and a boy who becomes what in the US we would call a terrorist, to protect his town and its people from the murders and kidnappings of the Hindustan regime. Confusing morally, but in a good way. The love story I thought took second stage, but was absolutely necessary to stop this book from just being death after death with no reprieve.

[Sreeja Chakraborty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never have I ever come across such a brilliant picture of Kashmir. The vivid details of the environment, language, and ambience of the valley, and the attention to manners and voices is commendable beyond words. The Kashmir conflict, the tug of war between two nations, and its gruesome impact on the residents of the valley—everything has been portrayed in this stunning narrative. Certainly one of the best I've read this year.